Carding machine



May 22, 1945. E. CLARK CARDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1943 4 Sheets-heet1 WL' tness May 22, 1945.

- E. LARK CARDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 22,1945. E. CLARK 2,376,661

GARDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5

Jnve to? W11 tness M 7 Mary May 22, 1945. CLARK 2,376,661

CARDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig, 6

Patented May 22, 1945 CARDING MACHINE Ernest Clark, Brockton,

Mass., assignor to Abington Textile Machinery Works, Boston, Mass., atrust of Massachusetts Application January, 21, 1943, Serial No. 473,105

22 Claims.

The present invention relates to carding machines. I

In carding machine operation, it is necessary to'stop productive cardingat intervals in order that the cylinders may be stripped. According tothe usual method, when stripping is called for, the feed is thrown outand the calender rolls are stopped. The cylinders are then strippedpreferably by pneumatic means. Thereafter the feed is restored. Asubstantial time is required for the fibers to build up on the doffer,and during that time an underweight sliver is taken off by the comb Whenthe sliver eventually builds up to weight, the operator must discard theunderweight sliver formed in the build-up interval and then piece thenew sliver to the old end. This operation calls for considerablejudgment and skill, and in any event is unsatisfactory because it formsa portion of excess weight at the point where the piecing operationtakes place.

The object of the present invention is to provide a carding machine inwhich the sliver which is newly formed on resumption of the carding isautomatically pieced to the previously formed sliver, whereby acontinuous sliver of substantially uniform weight is formed.

To this end, one feature of the present invention comprises means togrip and hold the previously formed sliver during the strippinginterval.

In the preferred form of the invention, this gripping means includes thecomb itself, which is stopped substantially at its lowermost positionand held motionless throughout the period of interruption of carding.

Another feature of the invention comprises until the doffer has made apredetermined number of revolutions. At the conclusion of th timingcycle, the comb operates to comb off the fibers from the dofier, whichfibers join with the fibers of the previously formed web in such amanner as to produce a continuous sliver of uniform weight.

Other features of the invention consist in certain novel features ofconstruction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion ofa card with the apparatus of the present invention applied thereto; Fig.2 is a detail view illustrating a portion of the comb; Fig. 3 is a sideview of the calender roll gearing; Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating thepiecing operation; Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the control mechansm;Fig. 6 is a detail view of certain of the control apparatus shown inFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the apparatus in a differentposition; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the comb clutch as viewed in thedirection indicated at 8-8 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 9 is I 01f. Thispreferably comprises a timing means which prevents the comb from beingrestarted L rolls 2!] and 22. 2.0

a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

In the drawings the control apparatus of the present invention is shownas applied to a Whitin card. The card itself is of conventional form andcomprises a card-clothed main cylinder 9, a card-clothed dofier cylinderII], a comb box l2, a comb shaft 14 and a comb eccentric shaft IE tooperate a comb IS. The card also has a trumpet 18, through which sliverpasses to the calender The calender rolls are driven by gearing,including a, disengaging gear 24 meshing with a largegear 26 rotatingwith the doffer, an intermediate gear 28, and a gear 30 on the shaft ofthe calender roll 22. The disengaging gear 24 may be disengaged from thegear 26 by a device 32, which includes the conventional bush andthreaded stud acting to move the gear 24 axially,

A pulley 34, driven by a belt connection from the main cylinder, drivesa pulley 36. having a belt connection 38 with the comb operatingmechanism. Instead of the conventional connection to the comb shaft l4,however, the connection 38 is through a comb drive 40 to be describedlater in detail.

The doffer shaft 42, which is driven by conven-' tional means, isconnected through miter gears 44 with a feed shaft 46 connecting in theusual manner with the feed mechanism. The shaft passes through aneccentric bush 48 provided with a throw handle 50 by which the shaft 46may be moved laterally to disconnect the miter gears and thereby stopthe feed. The card is provided with suction stripping devices, indicatedby the nozzles 5i, said devices preferably of the general type describedin my Patent No. 1,905,265, dated, April 25, 1933. p

The parts thus far described, except as otherwise specifically noted,are conventional. In ordinary operation, whenstripping is called for,the operator throws out the feed by means of the handle 50 and stops thecalender rolls by means of the dsengaging device 32, after which thestripping mechanism is put into operation. At the conclusion of thestripping operation, the op erator restores the feed by throwing thehandle 50 in the opposite direction and at an appropriate time engagesthe calender roll gearing. The starting of the new sliver, together withthe operation of piecing it to the old end, is accomplished manually.

According to the present invention, the opera tion of throwing out thefeed, also automatically causes disengagement of the calender rollgearing and stops the comb at a definite position to grip or hold thepreviously formed web, as will hereinafter be described. Aftercompletion of the stripping operation, the feed is restored, butresumption of comb and calendar operation is delayed until the fibershave built up to proper weight. timing mechanism. When comb operation isrestored, the new web removed from the doffer automatically pieces on tothe old web, without wastage.

Referring to Fig. 5, the eccentric bush 48 carries a throw collar 52having a pin 54 which normally engages a pin 56 on a pulley 58.Connected to the pulley is a flexible strap or chain 66, which issecured at its other end to a pulley 62; The pulley 62 turns on a shaft64, and is attached to a pulley 66 having a chain pull 68 to an arm Illforming a part of the comb drive 40. A third pulley I2 on the shaft 64is driven by a pin clutch I3 fromthe pulley 66 and is connected by achain pull T4 with a counterweighted arm "IS on a shaft I8 which extendsacross the machine to a pulley 811 having a cable connection 82 with theclutch 32 of the calender disengaging gear 24. Upon throwing the handle50 outwardly, therefore, the miter gears 44 are disconnected, therebyshutting off the feed, and the pulley 62 is turned, thereby operatingthe chain pulls 68 and I4 to release the comb drive 40 and thedisengaging gear 24 of the calender roll drive. The purpose of the pinclutch I3. will be explained later.

Before describing the comb drive, further de: tails associated with thefeed throw-out will be described. These are shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7,and are particularly constructed to form a timing mechanism whereby thecomb and calender rolls are not restored to operation until a certaindefinite time after the feed has been restored.

Mounted on the pulley 58 is an eccentric cam 90 provided with a latchingshoulder 9|. The cam normally supports av dog 92 secured to a pivotedarm 94. The arm 94 carries at its outer This preferably isaccomplishedby a end a timing gear 96, which carries a knockoff member 98. As shownin Fig. 6, the end of the knock-off member extends beyond the peripheryof the timing gear 96 and normally engages an adjustable stop I96secured in a slot I02 in a portion of the arm 94. A torsion spring I94urges the gear 96 into a directionto hold the knock-off against thestop. The feed shaft 46 is provided with a gear I06 normally meshingwith an idler I98 mounted on a shaft III) which carries asmall gear II2.

When the handle 50 is thrown out to disengage the feed, the eccentric 90is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, so thatthe dog 92 drops and latches at the shoulder 9| of the eccentric. At thesame time, the feed shaft gear I06 is'disengaged from the idler I98. Thearm 94 drops sufficiently to allow the timing gear 96 to engage with thesmall gear I I2. While the handle 59 is thrown out, the timing gear, 96does not revolve, because the miter gears are disconnected and alsobecause the gears I06 and I08 are disengaged.

At the conclusion of the stripping operation,

when normal carding is to be resumed, the operator throws the handle 50back to its original position, as shown in Fig. 5, thereby reengagingthe miter gears 44 as well as the gears I06 and I08. The eccentric 96remains latched, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the operation of the comband calender rolls is not immediately resumed when the feed is restored.The rotation of the feed shaft causes rotation of the timing gear in aclockwise direction. After an interval determined by the initial settingof the knock-off stop I 00 the knock-off 98 engages a roller I I4mounted on the end of the idler gear shaft IIU, thereby first liftingthe dog 92 out of the latch 9I and causing the eccentric to be turned ina clockwise direction back to its original position by the downward pullon the chain 60. It will be noted from Fig. '7 that the high part of theeccentric engages the dog after release of the latter, thereby further'lifting the arm 94 and insuring disengagement of the timing gear 96 fromthe gear II2. As soon as this disengagement takes place. the gear 95 isturned in a counterclockwise direction by the spring I04 until theknock-off engages the stop I00.

The comb operating mechanism will now be described. The comb I6 is ofconventional form, and as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4, isconnected bystruts I29 with the comb eccentric shaft I5. This shaft isoscillated by mechanism enclosed in the comb box I2. As shown in Fig. 2,the comb is substantially at the lowest part of its movement, and thisis the position at which the comb is brought to rest after operation ofthe throw-out. Means are provided for engaging and firmly holding theweb when the comb is stopped. This means comprises the comb itselfoperating in conjunction with a plate I22 which may be termed a webholder and which extends in a nearly vertical plane across the doffercylinder and immediately below and in front of the comb when the latteris at its lowermost position. The plate I22 is attached to a bracket I24which, as shown in Fig. 3, is. secured to a fixed part of the machine.On the upper surface of the bracket there is attached a smooth plate I26forming a sliver tray for holding the web during the period when thecard is stopped for stripping purposes. I

The comb drive 40, which is shown in detail in Fig. 8, is constructed tostop the comb in the position of Fig. 2, whereby the previously formedweb, indicated at, I28, is held between the comb and the plate I22. Toaccomplish this result the drive is constructed as follows: The belt 38drives a pulley I39mounted for sliding movement on a sleeve I32, whichin turn is supported on a fixed shaft I34 secured in a bracket I36attached to the frame below the comb box. The arm I0 to which the pullchain 68 is connected is mounted on the sleeve I32 and carries a screwI38, the end of which passes through a hole in the sleeve to engage in ahelical groove I40 in the shaft I34. The pulley I30 is provided with acone clutch member I42 engaging a second clutch member I44, and normallyheld in engagement therewith by a spring I46 between the arm I0 and athrust bearing I41.

The clutch member I44 is mounted on a sleeve I48 which is freelyrotatable on the shaft I34. A sprocket I50 is mounted on the sleeve I48and is connected by a chain I52 with a sprocket I54 on the comb shaftI4. A disk I56 is also mounted on the sleeve I48. The clutch member I44,the gear I 50.and the disk I58 are secured together by a pin I58.

Mounted on the disk I56 is a pawl I60 pressed 6 by a spring I6I towardengagement with a ratchet I62, the teeth of which are formed on aninternal shoulder I 64 of a pulley I66 mounted for free rotation on asleeve I68 secured to the shaft I34. As shownin Figs. 8 and 9, thesleeve I68 is provided at its end with a cam I10 having a pawlliftingsurface I12. The pulley I68 is driven at slow speed by means of a beltconnection I14 with a pulley I 16 on the doffer shaft.

A compression spring I18 between the arm 18 and a fixed collar I80normally holds the arm 18 in the position shown in Fig. 8. The pulleyI38 is driven at high speed by the belt 38 and the pulley I66 is drivenat slow speed by the belt I14. The pawl and ratchet form an overrunningcon-'- nection whereby the comb shaft is driven at highspeed during thenormal carding operation. During such normal operation, the pawl is heldout of engagement with the ratchet by centrifugal force. When stoppingof the comb is called for by operation of the pull chain 68, the arm 10,operating in the groove I40, moves the sleeve I32 to the right, therebydisengaging the clutch members I42, I44. As the gear I58 and the diskI56 slow down, the pawl I88 is pressed by the spring I 6I intoengagement with the ratchet I62. The disk I56 is carried around by theratchet untilthe pawl is lifted out of the ratchet by the lifter I12.The lifter I12 is placedin a proper position to insure that the combstops in exact relation to the holding plate I22, as shown in Fig. 2. Itwill be noted that if through inertia the pawl should be carried pastthe lifter I12 on one revolution, it will reengage with the ratchet andbe carried aroundso that it can be properly lifted out on the nextrevolution. The purpose of the chain drive I52 rather than a belt driveis to insure a positive connection so that the comb will stop at thecorrect position determined by the setting of the lifter n2. 7

To restore operation, the throw-out handle 58 is moved back to itsoriginal position, thereby immediately reengaging the feed gears. Thetimin mechanism then assumes the position shown in Fig. 7. After a timedetermined by the motion of the knock-off 98 from the stop I to theroller II4, the latch is released. The comb is restored to operation bythe action of the compression spring I18 reengaging the clutch I42, I44,there by operating the high-speed drive. Also the counterweighted arm 16drops, thereby causing .reengagement of the calender roll intermediategear 24 to start the calender rolls. These actions restore the pulleys82, 66 and 12 and also the eccentric 88v to their original positionsshown in Fig. 6.

The purpose of the. pin clutch 13 will now be apparent. As soon as theteeth of the gear 24 engage the teeth of the gear 26, and even beforefull axial movement of the gear 24 is completed, the calender rolls willstart. The pin clutch 13 allows the comb to start immediately under theaction of the compression spring I18, without being delayed by the timenecessary for the complete re-engaging movement of the gear 24 which isaccomplished by the counterweighted arm 16. Thus there is no danger ofstarting the calender rolls ahead of the comb in such a way as tostretch or break the web. If meshing of gears 24 and 26 is delayedslightly, the comb will start first, but this results only in a littletemporary slackness of the web, which is sufiiciently sup-1 ported bythe tray I26.

i The general operation of the machine will now be briefly reviewed.When the machine is to be stripped, the feed is thrown out by means ofthe handle 58 and this also stops the comb and calender roll. The combis stopped in substantially its lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 2,and grips the end of the previously formed web I28 which extends overthe sliver tray I26 to the calender rolls. The operator then sets thenozzle 5| to start its traverse across the cylinder. At the completionof the stripping operation, the suction may be cut off either manuallyor automatically.

When the stripping-is completed, the handle 58 is thrown back to itsoriginal position as shown in Fig. 5. This is usually done manually butmay be done automatically, as described in my Patent No. 2,281,268, orthe patent to White, No. 2,281,384, both dated April 28, .1942. Therestoration of the handle 58 to its original position reengages the feedgears, whereby the lap is fed to the licker-in and the carding operationprogresses with the building up of fibers on the main cylinder and thedoffer cylinder.

When the fibers are built up on the dofier cylinder to the desiredweight, the comb and calender rolls are again started. This control ofweight is determined by the setting of the stop I08. Generally the stopis set so that the dofier makes five to seven revolutions afterresumption of the feed before the comb and calender rolls are againstarted. In any event, the setting of the stop I00 is determined by suchfactors as the speed of the machine and the character of the material.

As indicated in Fig. 2., the previously formed web has left a few fibersI between the comb andthe wires of the doffer. When the comb is in itslowermost position, its teeth are below the line connecting the axes ofthe doifer shaft 42 and the comb eccentric shaft I5. Hence the teeth arenot then in the position of closest proximiy to the dofier wires, andthere is adequate space for the fibers I88 without being pulled oil bythe dofier wires. After the build-up period, newly carded fibersaccumulate at the outer ends of the wires in proximity to the fibersI88. When the comb resumes operation, the first upward movement aboutthe axis of the shaft I5 carries the comb teeth through a positionslightly closer to the dofier wires, thereby intermingling the new andold fibers. On the downward motion of the comb, the new fibers arecombed ofi, thus forming a web which pieces on to the old web.

The intertwining of the fibers continues during the motion of the webfrom the comb to the trumpet. It will be seen from Fig. 4 that variousportions of the web must travel varying distances from the comb to thetrumpet. The linear speed of allfibers is substantially the same, sincethe fibers are being combed ofi all porions of the doffer at the samerate. Thus there is an intermingling of new and old fibers over adistance equal to the difference beween the distance a at the edge ofthe web and the distance b at the center. This contributes to theself-supporting characteristics of the web. Furthermore, if any slightunevenness exists at the junction, it is distributed over such a lengthof sliver as to be entirely inconsequential.

The present invention is advanageous not only in relieving the operatorof a diiflcult and timeconsuming task, but also in promoting economy inthe operation of the machine. The productive carding operation isinterrupted for only the minimum of time essenial for stripping.Furthermore, there is no wastage of material and an improved product ofexceptionally uniform Weight is obtained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a carding machine having feed control means, calender rolls and acomb, throw-out means for stopping the feed control means and thecalender rolls, means under control of said throw-out means for stoppingthe comb in a predetermined position to hold the previously formed web,and means operated upon restoration of the feed for delaying resumptionof operation of the calender rolls and comb for a predetermined time.

2. In a carding machine having'a comb and driving means therefor,stopping means for the comb having provision for stopping the comb atsubstantially its lowermost position, and a holding plate cooperatingwith the comb to hold a previously formed web during the period of combstoppage.

3. In a carding machine having a comb and driving means therefor,stopping means for the comb having provision for stopping the comb atsubstantially its lowermost position, a holding plate cooperating withthe comb to hold a previously formed web during the period of combstoppage, and a sliver tray extending forwardly from said plate tosupport the web.

4. Comb operating means for a carding machine comprising high-speeddriving means, lowspeed driving means, an overrunning device to permitnormal high-speed operation, a device to cause operation at low speed,and means for disconnecting the low-speed driving means at apredetermined position in order to stop the comb at substantially apredetermined point in its cycle.

5. Comb operating means for a carding machine comprising high-speeddriving means, lowspeed driving means, an overrunning device to permitnormal high-speed operation, a clutch device to disconnect thehigh-speed driving means, and means for subsequently disconnecting thelow-speed driving means to stop the comb at a predetermined position.

6. Comb operating means for a carding machine comprising high-speeddriving means, lowspeed driving means, an overrunning device to permitnormal high-speed operation, said device including a pawl and ratchet, aclutch device to disconnect the high-speed driving means to causeoperation at low speed, and a pawl lifter to disconnect said low-speeddriving means at a predetermined position.

'7. In a carding machine having a doffer, a comb and feed control means,the combination of means for stopping carding for a stripping operationwhile the doffer continues to run, said means including a feed controlthrow-out, connections to stop the comb at substantially its lowermostposition, means including the comb for holding the previously formedweb, and means for subsequently restoring operation of the comb to forma new web which is formed as a continuation of the previously formedweb.

8. In a carding machine having a doffer, a comb and feed control means,the combination of means for stopping carding for a stripping operationwhile the doffer continues to run, said means including a feed controlthrow-out, connections to stop the comb at substantially its lowermostposition, means including the comb for hol'ding the previously formedweb', and means operated upon subsequent restoration of the feed fordelaying resumption of operation of the comb for a sufficient period topermitflbers to build up onthe doffer.

9. In a carding machine having a doffer, a comb and a comb driving meansnormally operating to comb fibers from the dofier to form a web, meansfor stopping the combing operation during an interruption of cardingwhile the doffer continues to run, means for holding the previouslyformed web during the period of interruption, and means for resuming thecombing operation to cause the newly carded fibers to piece on to thepreviously formed web to form "a continuous sliver.

10. In a carding machine having a dofier, a comb and a comb drivingmeans normally operating to comb fibers from the doffer to form a web,means for stopping the combing operation during an interruption ofcarding while the doffer continues to run, means for holding thepreviously formed web during the period of interruption, said meanshaving provision for maintaining some of the fiber thereof in proximitto the doffer, whereby on resumption of the combing operation the newlycarded fibers arepieced on to the'fi bers of the previously formed web.I

11. In a carding machine having a doffer, a comb,- and comb-operatingmeans including a shaft for oscillating the comb, the comb at itslowest'position being below the line connecting the axes of the doiferand said shaft, the combination of means for stopping the combingoperation, means for gripping and holding the previously formed web in aposition corresponding to the lowermost position of comb movement duringan interruption of carding while the dofier la continues to run, andmeans for resuming the combing operation to cause newly carded fibers tointermingle with fibers of the previously formed web.

, 12. In a carding machine having feed control means, a. doffer, combingmechanism to comb fibers from the doffer to form a web, and strippingdevices, the combination of feed throw-out means, means for stopping thecombing operation during a period ofstripping, means for holding thepreviously formed web during the stripping operation while the doffercontinues to run, and means for operating the feed control means and thecombing mechanism to resume carding after the stripping operation, saidmeans including devices to delay resumption of combing after resumptionof the feed to permit build-up of fibers on the dofier and thereafter tocause the newly carded fibers to join the previously formed web.

13. In a carding machine having a doffer, feed control means, strippingmeans, a comb and driving means therefor, stopping means for the combhaving provision for stopping the comb at substantially its lowermostposition, means cooperating with the comb to hold the previously formedweb during a stripping operation while the doffer continues to run, andmeans for resuming comb operation following the strippin operation tojoin newly carded fibers to the previously formed web.

'14. 'In a carding machine having a doffer, feed control means,stripping means, a comb and driving means therefor, throw-out means forstopping the feed control means during a stripping operation, means forstopping the comb in substantially its lowermost position to hold thePreviously formed web while the dofier continues to run, and means forresuming operation of the feed control means and comb following astripping operation, including a timing mechanism for delayingresumption of comb operation for a predetermined time after resumptionof the feed.

15. In a carding machine having a doffer, cal-" ender rolls, a comb andfeed control means, the combination of means for Stopping carding for astripping operation, said means including a feed control throw-out,means for stopping the calender rolls and comb, including devices forstopping the comb at substantially its lowermost position, meansincluding the comb for holding the previously formed web, and meansoperated upon subsequent restoration of the feed for delaying resumptionof operation of the comb and calender rolls for a sufficient period topermit fibers to build up on the dofier.

16. In a carding machine having a doiier, feed control means, calenderrolls, strippingmeans, a comb and driving means therefor, means forstopping the comb and for rendering the calender rolls ineffectiveduring an interruption of carding for a" stripping operation, said meansacting to stop the comb in a predetermined position to hold thepreviously formed web, and timing means for delaying resumption ofoperation of the comb and calender rolls following resumption of thecarding operation.

17. In a carding machine having feed control means, a comb, calenderrolls, throw-out means for stopping the feed control means, connectionsfrom the feed throw-out means to the comb and calender rolls to stop thecomb and to render the calender rolls inefiective, devices acting tocause the comb to stop in a predetermined position to hold a previouslyformed web, and timing means to delay operation of said connections andthus to delay resumption of comb operation and restoration of effectiveoperation of the calender rolls for a predetermined build-up intervalafter resumption of the operation of the feed control means.

18. In a carding machine having feed control means, a comb, calenderrolls, throw-out means for stopping the feed control means, connectionsfrom the feed throw-out means to the comb and calen'der rolls to stopthe comb and to render the calender rolls inefiective, devices .actingto cause the comb to stop in a predetermined position to hold apreviously formed web, and timing means to delay operation or. saidconnections and thus to delay resumption of comb operation andrestoration of effective operation of the calender rolls for apredetermined build-up interval after resumption of the operation of thefeed control means, said connections including independent devices topermit resumption of comb operation immediately at the conclusion of thebuild-up interval and without being aifected by the time necessary forresuming effective operation of the calender rolls.

19. In a carding machine having feed control gears, a comb, calenderrolls, a feed throw-out having an eccentric to disengage the feedcontrol gears, connections from said eccentric to stop the comb and tostop the calender rolls, and a timing device acting to prevent immediateoperation of said connections when the throw-out is operated tore-engage the gears, and to cause operation of said connections toresume comb and calender roll operation at a predetermined time afterrte-engagement of said gears.

20. In a carding machine having feed control gears, a comb, calenderrolls, a feed throw-out having an eccentric to disengage the feedcontrol gears, connections drom said eccentric to stop the comb and tostop the calender rolls, and a timing device acting to prevent immediateoperation of said connections when the throw-out is operated tore-engage the gears, and to cause operation of said connections toresume comb and calender roll operation at a predetermined time afterre-engagement of said gears, the timing device including a latch to holdsaid connections, and an adjustable member rotated from said gears totrip the latch.

21. In a carding machine having a cardclothed cylinder and combing meansnormally operating to remove a continuous web from the cylinder, thecombination of means to render the combing means ineffective to removematerial from the cylinder during an interruption of carding while thecylindercontinues to run, means for holding a previously dormed webduring said interruption, and means for resuming operation of thecombing means to cause the newly carded fibers .to piece on to thepreviously formed web.

22. In a carding machine having a cardclothed cylinder, combing meansnormally operating to remove a, continuous web from the cylinder andfeed throw-out means, the combination of connections from the feedthrow-out means to the combing means to render the combing meansineffective to remove material from the cylinder during an interruptionout carding for a stripping operation while the cylinder continues torun, means for holding a previously formed web during the period ofinterruption with some of its fibers in proximity to the cylinder, andmeans operated on subsequent restoration of the feed for delayingresumption of operation of the combing means for a period to permitbuild-up or fibers on the cylinder.

ERNEST CLARK.

